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About a week later since the four friends reunion, Mizuki had regained her smile from childhood. She's always had the time to hang out with Miyako whenever there was free time. And because they all had the same class together, there was never time to be alone. It was a "golden week" for Shinobu, Takeshi, Mizuki and Miyako. For some reasons, Akito was never really part of it, so it all took place that one Tuesday afternoon...

Four desks were pushed together to form a bigger table during lunch time, each desk holding a bentou* box on top. Mizuki sat next to Miyako while Shinobu sat, facing Mizuki, next to Takeshi. As usual, it was a bit noisy in the class. With Mizuki finally part of it, it was louder. The teacher, luckily, was in the faculty room to avoid the noises.

"Hey, Mizuki, " Shinobu said.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"I'm glad you're hanging out with us like old times... "
"Uh huh?"
"..but what about Koyama?"
There was a bit of silence among the group.
"You mean Akito?" Mizuki asked.
"Hmm? Who are we talking about?" Asked Miyako.
"Ah.. Miyako.. " Takeshi grabbed her attention and began explaining to her.
To add to the awkward moment, Mizuki turned her eyes towards the door, seeing Akito there. "Ah.. he's right there." She said.
Shinobu turned to see and saw Koyama there. Was he lonely? Akito opened the door all the way and came towards the group. In his hand was an average, blue bentou. He stopped by Mizuki's desk, still holding his bentou.
"Yo~ Mizuki-chan." He said with a goofy grin. "It's been a while. Who are these people?"
"Ah.. Akito, meet Miyamoto Miyako." She answered, pointing next to her. Miyako smiled in a charming way. "Nice to meet you."
"Same here. I'm Koyama Akito." He said, eyes still on Mizuki.
Shinobu cleared his throat a bit. "Ahem... Koyama. I have something I'd like to say to you."
Akito finally looked away from Mizuki, onto Shinobu. "What? Make it quick."
"Stop making it sound like you're in a hurry.. jeez.." Shinobu finished chewing and looked at him, eye to eye. "I want to thank you for being by Mizuki's side while her memories were... disarrayed."
Akito stared at Shinobu a bit, then at Mizuki, who wasn't really looking at him, but rather at the desk. "What do you mean?"
"..She lost her memories of the three of us when Takeshi and I left her." Miyako said, not really in a happy mood.
"So you're saying she got her memory back? I'm not needed anymore?"
"That's not true, Akito." Mizuki said, "It's not like that at all."
"Then what is it? How come you don't hang out with me anymore?"
"..." Mizuki didn't know what to say or do at the moment...
"Please leave Mizuki alone, Koyama-san." Miyako said, a hand on Mizuki's shoulder to comfort her.
Shinobu got up from his seat and guided Akito out of the classroom. As he closed the door behind him, Akito turned to look at Shinobu. Before he could even say anything, Shinobu started first.
"I know this is sudden for you.. but I want to say that I'm glad you stayed by her side.. as much as I wanted to be the one by her side."
"Then why did you leave her alone?"
Shinobu glanced at Akito, wondering why he was asking something so obvious. "She had forgotten me temporarily."
"That wouldn't have stopped me if I were you."
"Might be true, but I didn't want to hurt her."
"Whatever. I'll be around." And at that, Akito walked away, a bit upset.

*bentou - Japanese handmade lunch